Flag of Tennessee
The Tennessee flag has a red field, a blue circle edged in white with three white stars at the center, and a narrow blue stripe on the fly edge. The stars stand for the state's three Grand Divisions.
What the Tennessee flag looks like
The state flag of Tennessee is built from three simple parts. The main field is crimson red. In the center is a round blue disc with a thin white ring, and inside that disc are three white five-pointed stars arranged in a small circle. At the fly end, the right-hand edge, a narrow vertical blue bar is separated from the red by a thin white line.
Tennessee's flag is made in 5:3 proportions, a little longer than most other state flags. It uses only three colors, red, white and blue, which are the same as the flag of the United States, and it has no text or emblem.
Tennessee flag meaning and symbolism
The three stars are the key. They represent the three Grand Divisions of Tennessee: East, Middle and West. These are the state's regional groupings, each with its own geography and history. The circle that holds the stars together is usually read as a sign that the three parts are bound as one.
The colors are the same red, white and blue as the national flag. The designer is said to have added the narrow blue bar at the fly end to give the flag a finished edge, so it is mostly a design choice rather than a symbol.
History of the Tennessee flag
Tennessee entered the Union in 1796 as the sixteenth state, but it went more than a century without an official flag. The current design was created by Colonel LeRoy Reeves of the Tennessee National Guard, who said he wanted a banner his regiment could carry that was easy to recognize at a distance. The General Assembly adopted it on April 17, 1905.
The flag has not been redesigned since. Over the years the legislature has added rules on its colors and proportions and on how to display it, but the original design is intact.
Interesting facts about the Tennessee flag
- The flag is often called one of the easiest state flags to recognize, because it has no words or seal.
- Its design is credited to a single officer, rather than a public contest.
- The state motto, Agriculture and Commerce, appears on the state seal and not on the flag.
You can compare it with other designs on the U.S. state flags page.
Tennessee flag colors
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0, 100, 100, 20#002D65RGB
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100, 55, 0, 60#FFFFFFRGB
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0, 0, 0, 0Tennessee flag facts
| Adopted | April 17, 1905 |
|---|---|
| Proportions | 3:5 |
| Designer | Le Roy Reeves |
| State capital | Nashville |
| State motto | Agriculture and Commerce |
| Population | 6,910,840 |
Tennessee state flag FAQ
Why are there three stars on the Tennessee flag?
The three stars stand for the state's three Grand Divisions: East Tennessee, Middle Tennessee and West Tennessee. The ring around them shows that they are united.
Who designed the Tennessee flag?
Colonel LeRoy Reeves of the Tennessee National Guard designed it. The legislature adopted it on April 17, 1905.
Did Tennessee change its state flag?
No. The flag adopted in 1905 is still the current state flag. Tennessee had no official flag before that date, so there is no earlier state design to compare it with.
What is the Tennessee state motto?
The state motto is Agriculture and Commerce. It is written on the state seal rather than on the flag.
What is special about the Tennessee state flag?
It is a symbolic design with no seal or lettering. A circle of three stars on a red field, with a blue bar on the fly end, makes it unusually simple and easy to recognize.
